Split from his longtime partner, Mikhail Prokhorov, beginning in early 2007. Has not helped his pocket book. Fortune has fallen more than $17 billion in past year, as shares of his biggest holding, world's biggest nickel producer Norilsk Nickel, collapsed by three-fourths. Still his stake in Norilsk is not as large as he hoped, as Prokhorov sold out to billionaire Oleg Deripaska instead of him. As part of division of assets, Potanin still has a stake in Rosbank. Sold 20% stake in Polyus Gold to another billionaire, Suleiman Kerimov, late 2008. Has variously served as a deputy prime minister of the economy under Boris Yeltsin and as partner to George Soros in telecom monopoly Svyazinvest. Active in philanthropy in Russia and is a supporter of the arts.